Mitch McConnell hires Jesse Benton to run his 2014 re-election bid

[parocks]

You seem to be overlooking the part about him saying that at that point Ron had no chance to win. Romney already had it wrapped up. For some time, we were working to get Ron his 15 minute speaking slot. Some, were hoping for a miracle, but that is what it would have taken.

I too wish they would have told us. Maybe they thought if they did, people would stop trying. I don't know. I don't particularly like the way it was handled, either.

I'm talking about Michigan. Michigan was really early. February 28. Nothing was over at that point. There were 9 primaries/caucuses already - Romney won 4, Santorum won 4, Gingrich won 1. We didn't attack Romney in Michigan because we were afraid of counter attacks. Romney won Michigan by 3 points. It's not unreasonable to think that Romney would've lost Michigan if we did attack him there.

 

[Aratus]

if part of this is a money quarrel ultimately and unless dr. ron paul moneybombs
again, if he had to reduce staff & staff saleries as things sorta wound down, did he
actually cling to the ropes a while longer so the people around him could start to
plan for their future? some of the people who donated were very very maxxed out.

 

[Matt Collins]

parocks, it appears to me that some in the official campaign wanted to move in a different direction, other than pushing Ron Paul..

This has always been about more than just Ron Paul. We are building a movement and mainstreaming a philsophy that to most is considered "fringe" because they are too ignorant to know any better. That doesn't take a few years or an election cycle; this takes decades. It's called foresight.

 

[Anti Federalist]

This has always been about more than just Ron Paul. We are building a movement and mainstreaming a philsophy that to most is considered "fringe" because they are too ignorant to know any better. That doesn't take a few years or an election cycle; this takes decades. It's called foresight.

Thus said the Golderwater-ites 50 years ago.

And where are we today?

More, or less, free?

 

[Matt Collins]

Thus said the Golderwater-ites 50 years ago.

And where are we today?

More, or less, free?

They didn't have the Internet. We do.

 

[sailingaway]

This has always been about more than just Ron Paul. We are building a movement and mainstreaming a philsophy that to most is considered "fringe" because they are too ignorant to know any better. That doesn't take a few years or an election cycle; this takes decades. It's called foresight.

The movement is one thing, the RON PAUL CAMPAIGN was funded and driven by those who wanted Ron Paul's profile and influence as high as possible, hence the name 'Ron Paul Campaign.'

 

[CaptLouAlbano]

This has always been about more than just Ron Paul. We are building a movement and mainstreaming a philsophy that to most is considered "fringe" because they are too ignorant to know any better. That doesn't take a few years or an election cycle; this takes decades. It's called foresight.

In 1960, Goldwater at the RNC called on conservatives to take back the party. While he did win the nomination four years later, in reality conservatives did not at that point take back the party, we just won the nomination. It wasn't until the mid 70's that we started to see a fundamental shift in the party with the leadership at the county, state and national level. We had far more conservatives elected into state and federal offices, and it culminated with the election of Reagan in 80. Now say what you will about the Reagan presidency and what occurred in the years that followed, but the point is that it took between 1960 and roughly 1978 before we had completely taken back the party. So as we work to take back the party again, it will take time. The good news is that this work did not begin in 2012 or even 2008, but has been brewing since the early to mid 90's. The successes we are witnessing this year and in recent years have been because of that work.

But we still have a long way to go, and it takes people who are dedicated to doing the hard work to see it through. Just voting isn't enough. Just donating isn't enough. It takes people who are willing to work at this year round: to attend meetings, to network with other like-minded people, to build coalitions with other factions of the party, to run for elected office, to win county committee seats, to knock on doors, to make phone calls, to do tabling events, to host community forums, etc, etc, etc. All of the above works, because it has worked before - it will work again. And the good thing is that when we succeed, we can lead as we will likely not be facing an overwhelming majority of Democrats in the House and Senate as we did in the 70's and 80's.

If you don't have the stomach for it, then please, with all due respect, don't stand in the way and/or discourage those who are doing yeoman's work. As Matt said, this is a long process. What I see Benton doing, is simply positioning himself in a place where he can learn and/or have influence with a high ranking elected official. It is far better that McConnell hire one of Ron Paul's staff than hiring one of Romney's. This move could very well benefit the liberty movement as we all continue moving forward. And if for some reason it does not, then that does not change the goal, it does not change the message, and it does not change in any way shape or form the work each and every one of us needs to do.